Mr. John Law, King’s Councilor in All Affairs, Controller-General of Finances in 1720
The Chimera: or, The French Way of Paying National Debts, Laid Open
Reflection of the Mercenary World, in the Beginning of the Rise and Fall of Stock Trading
Anonymous, 1720, Etching and engraving
The central image of this print features John Law’s portrait profile on a coin conjoined with the body of a bearded man in long, saintly robes. Seated upon a cross-bearing orb, a symbol of both authority and the dangers of overreaching one’s station, the composite character—part metal currency, part icon—warns of the perils of venerating the false god of money. Vignettes beneath this hybrid figure illustrate instances of avarice and the unbridled pursuit of pleasure, reinforcing the message. They were lifted from well-known prints by Hieronymus Bosch, Pieter Bruegel, and Abraham Bosse (a follower of Jacques Callot).
: Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs
The New York Public Library believes that this item is in the public domain under the laws of the United States, but did not make a determination as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. This item may not be in the public domain under the laws of other countries.
